| 1. |
- Lindegård Andersson, Agneta, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of working technique on physical loads - an exposure profile among newspaper editors.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Ergonomics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0014-0139 .- 1366-5847. ; 46:6, s. 598-615
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate the possible associations between working technique, sex, symptoms and level of physical load in VDU-work. A study group of 32 employees in the editing department of a daily newspaper answered a questionnaire, about physical working conditions and symptoms from the neck and the upper extremities. Muscular load, wrist positions and computer mouse forces were measured. Working technique was assessed from an observation protocol for computer work. In addition ratings of perceived exertion and overall comfort were collected. The results showed that subjects classified as having a good working technique worked with less muscular load in the forearm (extensor carpi ulnaris p=0.03) and in the trapezius muscle on the mouse operating side (p=0.02) compared to subjects classified as having a poor working technique. Moreover there were no differences in gap frequency (number of episodes when muscle activity is below 2.5% of a reference contraction) or muscular rest (total duration of gaps) between the two working technique groups. Women in this study used more force (mean force p=0.006, peak force p=0.02) expressed as % MVC than the men when operating the computer mouse. No major differences were shown in muscular load, wrist postures, perceived exertion or perceived comfort between men and women or between cases and symptom free subjects. In conclusion a good working technique was associated with reduced muscular load in the forearm muscles and in the trapezius muscle on the mouse operating side. Moreover women used more force (mean force and peak force) than men when operating the click button (left button) of the computer mouse.
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| 2. |
- Strandvik, Birgitta, 1938, et al.
(författare)
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Spectrum of mutations in the CFTR gene of patients with classical and atypical forms of cystic fibrosis from southwestern Sweden: identification of 12 novel mutations.
- 2001
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Ingår i: Genetic testing. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1090-6576 .- 1557-7473. ; 5:3, s. 235-42
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. The spectrum of CFTR mutations varies between populations and depends on different factors, such as ethnic background and geographical location. The extensive CFTR mutation screening of 129 patients with classical or atypical CF from the south-western region of Sweden revealed the presence of 37 CFTR mutations, including 12 novel alleles. The overall mutation detection rate in this study population was 92%, the highest among all tested regions in Sweden. Eight mutations with a frequency above 1% (DeltaF508, 394delTT, R117C, 3659delC, E60X, 1112delT, R764X, and 621 + 1G --> T) accounted for 78% of CF chromosomes and have been recommended for inclusion in the CFTR mutation screening panel for molecular diagnosis of CF in this region. The multiple occurrence of specific CFTR alleles less common than the predominant DeltaF508 mutation (394delTT, R117C, 3659delC) allowed for genotype-phenotype comparisons and revealed consistent relationships between these mutations and disease severity.
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| 3. |
- Wahlström, Jens, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of time pressure and verbal provocation on physiological and psychological reactions during work with a computer mouse.
- 2002
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Ingår i: European journal of applied physiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1439-6319 .- 1439-6327. ; 87:3, s. 257-63
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The overall aim of this study was to investigate whether time pressure and verbal provocation has any effect on physiological and psychological reactions during work with a computer mouse. It was hypothesised that physiological reactions other than muscle activity (i.e. wrist movements, forces applied to the computer mouse) would not be affected when working under stressful conditions. Fifteen subjects (8 men and 7 women) participated, performing a standardised text-editing task under stress and control conditions. Blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, electromyography, a force-sensing computer mouse and electrogoniometry were used to assess the physiological reactions of the subjects. Mood ratings and ratings of perceived exertion were used to assess their psychological reactions. The time pressure and verbal provocation (stress situation) resulted in increased physiological and psychological reactions compared with the two control situations. Heart rate, blood pressure and muscle activity in the first dorsal interosseus, right extensor digitorum and right trapezius muscles were greater in the stress situation. The peak forces applied to the button of the computer mouse and wrist movements were also affected by condition. Whether the increases in the physiological reactions were due to stress or increased speed/productivity during the stress situation is discussed. In conclusion, work with a computer mouse under time pressure and verbal provocation (stress conditions) led to increased physiological and psychological reactions compared to control conditions.
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| 4. |
- Wahlström, Jens, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived muscular tension, emotional stress, psychological demands and physical load during VDU work.
- 2003
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Ingår i: International archives of occupational and environmental health. - 0340-0131. ; 76:8, s. 584-90
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES. The aim of this study was to investigate whether perceived muscular tension, psychological demands and emotional stress were associated with physical load or working technique during visual display unit (VDU) work. METHODS. Subjects (28 women and 29 men) from two different organisations volunteered to participate in the study. The study design was cross-sectional, and the data were assessed when the subjects performed their usual work tasks at their usual work place. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate possible associations. The different outcome variables were: median muscle activity and muscular rest in the trapezius muscle bilaterally, wrist movements and working technique. The different explanatory variables were: perceived muscular tension (binary), emotional stress (binary), psychological demands (binary), organisation (binary) and gender (binary). Age (continuous) and present musculoskeletal pain (binary) were also controlled for in the multivariate models. Electromyography (EMG) and electrogoniometers were used to assess the physical load, and the data collection time was 15 min. An ergonomic checklist was used to assess working technique, i.e. work with lifted shoulders. RESULTS. Subjects who perceived muscular tension at least a few times per week the month before the measurements were made worked with higher muscle activity [expressed as per cent of a reference voluntary electrical activity (% RVE)] in the trapezius muscle bilaterally (5% RVE, P=0.05). High emotional stress during the measurement was associated with higher muscle activity in the trapezius muscle on the side not operating the computer mouse (8% RVE, P=0.006). Subjects who reported high levels of emotional stress worked more often with lifted shoulders (odds ratio 6.0, 95% CI 1.2-28.9). However, when present musculoskeletal pain was included in the multivariate model the odds ratio for high emotional stress decreased to 4.5 (95% CI 0.9-23.2). CONCLUSIONS. Perceived muscular tension and emotional stress were associated with physical load, in terms of muscle activity in the trapezius muscles, during VDU work in ordinary occupational settings.
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| 5. |
- Wahlström, Jens, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived muscular tension, job strain, physical exposure, and associations with neck pain among VDU users; a prospective cohort study.
- 2004
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Ingår i: Occupational and environmental medicine. - : BMJ. - 1470-7926 .- 1351-0711. ; 61:6, s. 523-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: To determine whether perceived muscular tension, job strain, or physical exposure are associated with increased risk of developing neck pain among VDU users. METHODS: A baseline questionnaire was answered by 1283 respondents, of whom 671 were free from neck pain at baseline. Perceived muscular tension, job strain, and physical exposure were assessed at baseline. Information about newly developed neck pain was collected in 10 follow up questionnaires and the case definition was the first report of such pain in any of the follow up questionnaires. Median follow up time was 10.9 months. RESULTS: Both men and women who perceived muscular tension at least a few times per week, compared to those who had not perceived muscular tension the preceding month, had an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 1.9 (95% CI 1.25 to 2.93) for developing neck pain, when stratifying for sex. High perceived muscular tension was associated with an increased risk (IRR 1.6, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.91), even when controlling for job strain, physical exposure, and age in the model stratified by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived muscular tension was associated with an increased risk of developing neck pain among VDU users. The combination of high job strain and high perceived muscular tension was associated with higher risk of developing neck pain than the combination of high physical exposure and high perceived muscular tension. There was an indication of an excess risk due to interaction between high physical exposure and high job strain.
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| 6. |
- Wahlström, Jens, 1972
(författare)
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Physical load, psychosocial and individual factors in visual display unit work
- 2003
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to explore associations between physicalload, psychosocial and individual factors in visual display unit (VDU)work. Furthermore, the aim was to investigate whether perceived musculartension is a predictor of neck pain among VDU operators. The thesisis based upon five separate studies, two laboratory studies, two fieldstudies and one prospective cohort study.Several different methods were used to assess the physical load. Electromyography(EMG) was used to record muscle activity. Wrist postures andmovements were assessed by means of electrogoniometers. An instrumentedcomputer mouse was used to measure the forces applied to thecomputer mouse. Working technique was assessed with an observationprotocol. Perceived exertion, comfort, mental stress and perceivedmuscular tension were assessed with questionnaires.The results of this work are discussed in relation to a proposed model forVDU work and musculoskeletal symptoms. The first two studies (StudiesI and II) support an association between individual factors (workingtechnique and sex) and the physical load. In Study III we observed thatthe physical load increased as a result of mental stress and increasedproductivity. Besides an increase in muscle activity; increases in the forcesapplied to the computer mouse and increased repetitiveness of wristmovements were also observed. The results from the third study alsosupport an association between psychosocial factors and physical loadthrough increased physical demands. The fourth study (Study IV)supports an association between perceived muscular tension and physicalload and perceived muscular tension is hypothesized to be an early sign ofmusculoskeletal symptoms. In Study V an increased risk of developingneck pain was observed among subjects who perceived high musculartension, even when controlling for job strain, physical exposure and age.It is concluded that the physical load during VDU work is affected bypsychosocial and individual factors as well as physical demands. VDUusers who perceives muscular tension at least a few times per week appearto have an increased risk of developing neck pain.
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